At the start of this UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the Sudbury model for industrial restoration is an important recipe to apply to climate change

Sudbury, Ontario was an environmental disaster with its nickel and copper mines and smelters. INCO (now Vale) in Sudbury was the world’s largest nickel producer at one time and was the subject of my master’s thesis. Nadia Mykytczuk, Interim CEO/President of MIRARCO at Laurentian University writes on The Conversation website about the transformation of the … Continue reading At the start of this UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the Sudbury model for industrial restoration is an important recipe to apply to climate change →

“It’s impossible to solve our affordable housing crisis, our climate emergency, and people’s desire for improved quality of life against racism and disinvestment into separate silos.”

Adam Mahoney writes on the National Observer website (although article originally published on Grist) that the main problem driving the so-called “heat-island effect” is tall buildings. But there are solutions as the author explains. Tall buildings: A boon for housing, a bane for the climate crisis In the summer of 1995, Chicago experienced one … Continue reading “It’s impossible to solve our affordable housing crisis, our climate emergency, and people’s desire for improved quality of life against racism and disinvestment into separate silos.” →

Solar farms can also be used to tackle another of the planet’s big problems: loss of biodiversity

Jacob Dykes writes on the Geographical website of the extra benefits that solar farms can bring. The solar farms that also boost wildlife Solar farms offer one way to meet the world’s decarbonisation targets, but they could also be used to tackle another of the planet’s big problems: loss of biodiversity. The approach is … Continue reading Solar farms can also be used to tackle another of the planet’s big problems: loss of biodiversity →

The impact of bottled water on natural resources is 3,500 times higher than for tap water

In the US, 17m barrels of oil are needed to produce the plastic to meet annual bottled water demand. In addition, bottled water in the UK is at least 500 times more expensive than tap water. Drinking tap water is worse for local health in Barcelona, but when you weigh both, what you gain from … Continue reading The impact of bottled water on natural resources is 3,500 times higher than for tap water →

Tourist visits to Australia’s vineyards comprise more than one-third of the industry’s total carbon footprint

The Australian wine industry has already been forced to adapt to the effects of climate change. If it fails to curb emissions associated with wine tourism, the industry is contributing to its own demise. Ya-Yen Sun, Senior Lecturer, The University of Queensland and Donald L. Drakeman, Distinguished Research Professor at the University of Notre Dame … Continue reading Tourist visits to Australia’s vineyards comprise more than one-third of the industry’s total carbon footprint →

The global risks from toxic pollution and climate change are highly correlated and should be jointly analysed in order to inform and better target efforts to reduce or mitigate both risks

A news item on the Climate Adaptation Platform discusses a new study, demonstrating a strong correlation between toxic pollution risk and climate risk, along with varying capacities of countries to manage that risk. They explain that high-risk low-income countries that must urgently address governance challenges in order to have a chance at successfully addressing pollution … Continue reading The global risks from toxic pollution and climate change are highly correlated and should be jointly analysed in order to inform and better target efforts to reduce or mitigate both risks →

Delegates to IPCC Working Group 1 finalising summary for policymakers

Scientists with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change are meeting to finalise the initial part of its first major climate assessment in seven years. On the fourth day last week, delegates continued their consideration of the Summary for Policymakers of the Working Group I (WG I) contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental … Continue reading Delegates to IPCC Working Group 1 finalising summary for policymakers →

More than 100 companies removed from global gold standard corporate sustainability scheme for failing to set climate goals in time

The Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) recruits companies to set “science-based” carbon reduction goals in line with the demands of the Paris climate agreement. After signing up businesses are required to submit climate targets to an expert panel for assessment within two years. Firms including Honda Motor Company and National Express among those removed from the … Continue reading More than 100 companies removed from global gold standard corporate sustainability scheme for failing to set climate goals in time →

With heat being an emergency for cities globally, Athens becomes the second city to appoint a chief heat officer to find ways to cool the city, beyond the obvious air conditioning in buildings

Heat is a particular problem for people in cities because built-up areas and concrete store heat from the sun, while energy use and transport create its own excess heat that adds to the natural warming effect, and there is less of the natural cooling effect of trees, vegetation and water. Athens has followed Miami-Date county … Continue reading With heat being an emergency for cities globally, Athens becomes the second city to appoint a chief heat officer to find ways to cool the city, beyond the obvious air conditioning in buildings →

Recent conflicts, political turmoil and the growing threat of climate-induced disasters could push Mozambique to re-envision its energy and development strategies

Mozambique is at a crossroads in its development. It has fossil fuels that it desperately wants to exploit, seeing them as a major opportunity for wealth creation. Yet, this is far from certain, and many believe that such exploitation will simply entrench poverty and lead to continued conflict. Mozambique has had too much of both. … Continue reading Recent conflicts, political turmoil and the growing threat of climate-induced disasters could push Mozambique to re-envision its energy and development strategies →